Original Equipment

You might remember us talking about how Goodyear tyres teamed up with Tesla on the Cybertruck. Now we’ve learnt that the latest versions have one or two more tyre-related trick up their sleeves.

Just as Henry Ford said customers could have his model T in any colour as long as it was black, the VW ID.7 can wear any 21-inch tyre you want – but only the Continental EcoContact 7 S is factory approved. Volkswagen has selected this as exclusive 21-inch original equipment fitment for its new, all-electric model in markets all around the world. Continental is supplying the tyre in 235/40 R21 98H XL and 265/35 R21 101H XL; both dimensions feature the ContiSeal puncture solution.

Chinese automotive firm XPeng has officially arrived in the UK, and the line-up it showed off during the launch event included the eVTOL X2. Billed as a flying car, this particular vehicle has – bad news for us – no wheels or tyres. To our considerable relief, the sole XPeng model presently on offer in the UK does come with these rubbery appendages, and it appears that XPeng favours a particular European tyre brand.

All good things must come to an end, but there’s nothing wrong with delaying the inevitable. And while Porsche 911 GT3 RS drivers cannot hold back the winter from arriving or hurry the onset of summer, with the right choice of tyre they can enjoy their £200K ride for a little longer each year. Porsche has shared details of joint development work it conducted with Michelin on a tailored version of the Pilot Sport S 5, which results in “a perfect option for prolonging the track-day season.”

Korean tyre brand Nexen will supply its Nexen N’Fera Supreme S all-season tyre to the new Hyundai flagship SUV, the Palisade. The tyre is tuned for performance and comfort alongside mobility in all normal weather conditions. The new supply deal demonstrates the strides Nexen has made in its tyre technology and product quality, and illustrates its increasing competitiveness with other vaunted brands.

The new Continental EcoContact 7 and EcoContact 7 S summer tyres, successors to the WhatTyre Eco Tyre of the Year 2024, will be launched in 2025. Featuring Conti’s latest efficiency-boosting technologies, the new EcoContact series tyres predominantly achieve EU tyre label ratings of A for rolling resistance, as well as A or B for wet braking and rolling noise, and are suitable for both electric vehicles, indicated by the Continental EV Compatible logo, and internal combustion engine (ICE) powered cars. The tyres, whose impending arrival we reported last year, also offer lower levels of noise.

Ford has selected Continental tyres as the factory fitment for its new Explorer and Capri electric SUVs. Under an exclusive, worldwide deal, it will deliver both models equipped with Continental EcoContact 6 Q summer tyres in 19-, 20- and 21-inch sizes. Ford has also approved the AllSeasonContact as an original equipment tyre for vehicles fitted with 19-inch rims.

Hankook Tire is continuing its supply of original equipment tyres to the Volkswagen Tiguan with deliveries of the Ventus evo SUV for the third-generation model. The compact SUV is available with the Hankook tyre in five 18-to-20-inch sizes.

EcoContact 6 Q tyres have been factory-fitted on the BYD Seal since last year, and Continental is now delivering original equipment tyres for the BYD Seal U. The electric SUV is available with Continental PremiumContact C (the ‘C’ standing for ‘Comfort’) in size 235/50 R19 99V. Continental tells us that this supply arrangement applies in “numerous countries” where the Seal U is sold.